Yes, President Bush Can be Trusted!
By Doug Hagin (10/18/05)
Whoever thought that an unassuming woman with an unassuming name like Harriet Miers could cause such a terrific political storm? Who would have ever dreamed such a woman could become the epicenter of a war amongst Conservative pundits?
Well certainly, I never entertained the notion that the nomination of Miers to be an associate justice of the United States Supreme court would create such political upheaval. Perhaps I did not understand the level of anger many of my fellow Conservatives have towards a Republican Party that, increasingly, seems at odds with the true ideals of Conservatism. Face it, there are a growing number of Conservatives who feel the Republican party has learned to take them for granted, much as the Democrats have taken African-American support as a given.
Make no mistake the anger over big spending, lax border policies, past Supreme Court nominees that have helped to create the current crisis of judicial activism, and Republicans who seemingly care more about being popular than being Conservative has left many Conservatives on edge. Oh sure they want to trust President Bush, after all they voted for him twice, and have dutifully supported his war on terror and his tax cuts, and have deeply appreciated his leadership and character.
Trusting him, however, seems to have taken a back seat to their anger over past shortcomings where Supreme Court nominees are concerned. See we Conservatives remember how Justice Stephens and Souter turned out don’t we? We also recall the “trust us” we got from Republicans when Justices Kennedy and O’Connor were placed on the Court. Therefore, it is quite understandable that Conservative nerves might be on edge.
Now I know about as much about Harriet Miers as anyone seems to. That is to say, I know she is a woman of faith, a long-time confidant of President Bush, a former Democrat and a gun owner. Not exactly, the most promising pedigree for a potential Supreme Court justice I admit. So why, one might ask, would any Conservative speak out in support of the Miers nomination? Let me explain.
Well, given the Bush record on judges he has nominated during his terms in office we Conservatives do have very good reason to be optimistic. Judges like Owens, Pickering, and Rogers-Brown are excellent choices that Bush has had the good sense to nominate and see confirmed. These are not judicial activists or Liberal judges in Conservative clothing, they are rock solid Constitutional originalists.
In fact, the record of the president on court nominees is as solid if not slightly better than that of Ronald Reagan. This record should give us a considerable amount of hope that Miers, and newly appointed Chief Justice John Roberts, will prove to be very good choices for the high court, should it not? Yet there is a huge cloud of doubt surrounding the Miers pick. Some Conservatives feel, and I certainly understand their view, are angry that President Bush seems to have avoided a fight by choosing Miers.
Yes, I would have preferred Bush choose, say Janice Rogers-Brown, who is a brilliant woman and infinitely qualified to sit on the Supreme Court. Surely, her proven, unabashedly Conservative record would have caused quite a fight with the Democrats. I and likely every Conservative would have taken great pleasure in watching the likes of Joe Biden and Charles Schummer attacking Brown. Surely, she would have shown them to be what they are, laughable leftists who fear anyone who respects the Constitution.
Yes, that would be very rewarding to see. Of course watching the party of “tolerance” and “inclusion” attacking Brown, who is an African-American, would be especially uplifting. Imagine the political ads the Republicans could run in 2006 and 2008 using those transcripts? Talk about exposing the Democrats for the frauds they are!
Therefore, yes I can understand the desire of Conservatives nominate the most proven Conservative judge to say to Liberals “Bring it on”! What if, though, Harriet Miers is, as the president has repeatedly promised, a strict constructionist? What if she will, as she promised in her speech following her nomination, abide by the intent of the Founders? What if she, breezes through the confirmation process, as most are predicting she will, and then proves to be another Scalia, Thomas, or Rhenquist? Think of that for a moment. Is it that bad to win a great victory without a fight? Would that be a disappointment? Is the fight the thing we seek? Or is it victory?
Consider that some of the greatest victories in history have been achieved without a tremendous struggle. Consider that President Bush has a tremendous record of placing brilliant judges on courts. Consider that he has, indeed, earned our trust on this matter.
Now I fully understand the trepidation we conservatives feel. Yes, we have been burned before, yes, even President Reagan made a mistake with Justice O’Connor, yes, I would love to throw down the judicial gauntlet and then beat the Democrats with it as much as any Conservative would.
However, ripping Harriet Miers with petty personal attacks, as some Conservatives have done or demanding she withdraw herself from consideration, or going into panic mode as some have done, is not the best route. Leave that to Liberals y’all.
(Printer friendly version) Email: Doug Hagin
